The history of Bulgaria shows that that nation has been continually the center of these intrigues.  In 1879 they elected as their sovereign Prince Alexander of Battenburg, whose career might almost be called romantic.  A splendid soldier and an accomplished gentleman, he stands out as an interesting figure in the sordid politics of the Balkans.  He identified himself with his new country.  In 1885 he brought about a union with Eastern Rumelia, which led to a disagreement with Russia.

Serbia, doubtless at Russian instigation, suddenly declared war, but was overwhelmed by Prince Alexander in short order.  Russia then abducted Prince Alexander, but later was forced to restore him.  However, Russian intrigues, and his failure to obtain support from one of the great powers, forced his abdication in 1886.

In 1887 Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha became the Prince of Bulgaria.  He, also, was a remarkable man, but not the romantic of his predecessor.  He seems to have been a sort of a parody of a king.  He was fond of ostentation, and full of ambition.  He was a personal coward, but extremely cunning.  During his long reign he built up Bulgaria into a powerful, independent kingdom, and even assumed the title of Czar of Bulgaria.  During the first days of his reign he was kept safely on the throne by his mother, the Princess Clementine, a daughter of Louis Phillippe, who, according to Gladstone, was the cleverest woman in Europe, and for a few years Bulgaria was at peace.  In 1908 he declared Bulgaria independent, and its independence was recognized by Turkey on the payment of an indemnity.  During this period Russia was the protector of Bulgaria, but the Bulgarian fox was looking also for the aid of Austria.  Serbia more and more relied upon Russia.

The Austrian treatment of the Slavs was a source of constant irritation to Serbia.  Roumania had a divided feeling.  Her loss of Bessarabia to Russia had caused ill feeling, but in Austria’s province of Transylvania there were millions of Roumanians, whom Roumania desired to bring under her rule.  Greece was fearful of Russia, because of Russia’s desire for the control of Constantinople.  All of these nations, too, were deeply conscious of the Austro-German ambitions for extension of their power through to the East.  Each of these principalities was also jealous of the other.  Bulgaria and Serbia had been at war; many Bulgarians were in the Roumanian territory, many Serbians, Bulgarians and Greeks in Macedonia.  There was only one tie in common, that was their hatred of Turkey.  In 1912 a league was formed, under the direction of the Greek statesman, Venizelos, having for its object an attack on Turkey.  By secret treaties arrangements were made for the division of the land, which they hoped to obtain from Turkey.

War was declared, and Turkey was decisively defeated, and then the trouble began.  Serbia and Bulgaria had been particularly anxious for an outlet to the sea, and in the treaty between them it had been arranged that Serbia should have an outlet on the Adriatic, while Bulgaria was to obtain an outlet on the AEgean.  The Triple Alliance positively refused Serbia its share of the Adriatic coast.  Serbia insisted, therefore, on a revision of the treaty, which would enable her to have a seaport on the AEgean.